Grenade



i lMarch 12,` 1935. J. A. WILLNERsl GRENADE Filed Aprilv 19, 1932Patented l Mal'. l2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Willners executrixof deceased said John A. Willners,

\ Application April 19, 1932, Serial No. 606,111

13 Claims. (Cl. 102-29) 'My invention relates to improvements `ingrenades. The Objectis to provide improved ring means and controlstherefor.

The invention 'comprises a plurality of detents, one detent controllingthe firing pin and another detent controlling the release of the firingpin detent. i Y

The invention also comprises details in construction.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates merely by way `of example apreferred embodiment of the invention:'-

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation. l

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on line 3, 3 of Fig. 2. t p

Fig. 4 ls a planvew. l

Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of one of the controlling elements.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts through the several views. t

The hollow or chambered body or shell 11 is preferably of sphericalformation, slightly larger than a base ball and easily grasped in thehand. It is provided in its peripheral wall with an elongated opening,flanked by the inwardly projecting parallel side flanges 12, and havingthe oppositely directed end flanges 13 in a plane at right angles totheplanes of the side flanges.

A formation, for example, a plate or block 14 fits snugly between theflanges 12 and rests upon the flanges 13 to which it is secured, as bythe screws 15. Block 14 is` provided with a finger receiving recess orchannel 14. This block is providedV with a centrally positioned`threaded opening 16, in which is secured the threaded end of cylinderor housing 17.

The housing 17 is provided at its lower or inner end with a threadedflange 18 ntowhich is.

threaded the tube 19. Within the tube 19 is secured the time fuse 20,projecting from the lower end and of the required length, depending uponthe delay of action desired. At the upper end of this tube 19 issecuredthe cap or primer or detonator 21 of usual form.

Within the housing 17 is also4 provided the slide tube 22 having itslend 23 projecting through the'block 14, into the recess 14', but'notabove the normal periphery of the shell, for manual operation. Betweenthe inner end of slide tube 22 and the flange `18, is provided thespring 24 for normallymaintaining the slide tube in elevated position,that is with the end 23 projecting into the recess 14. 1

Within the upper end of slide tube 22, is provided the firing pin 25,flanged at its lower end and provided with a spring 26 effective betweenthe flange and the top of the slide tube.

The slide tube 22 is also provided with a slot 27 on one side thereofadapted to move into and 5 partly out of register with a correspondingslot 28 provided in the wall of housing 17. Through these slots projectsa detent 29 pivoted at 30 to a bifurcated lug 31, secured to theunderside of block 14. This detent 29 projects into the slide 10 tubebeneath the end of firing pin 25 and normally holds the same against theactuation of spring 26.

The slide tube 22 and housing 17 are also provided with registeringholes 32 and 33 on the 15 y side opposite the slots 27 and 28, and areadapted to receive the detent or locking pin 34 carried by the detentpin-plate 35, which is slidably mounted in grooves 36 in the undersideof block 14. This plate 35 has a portion which normally pro- 20 jectsbeyond the periphery of body 11 and is held in such position normally bythe leaf spring 37 secured to the underside of block 14 with its freeend engaging the inner end of plate 35. 'I'he detent pin 34 is adaptedto project through the registering holes 32 and 33 normally to hold 0rlock the slide tube 22 against actuation.

`The chambered body 11 is also usually provided with evenly spaced smallholes or openings 38 in its wall.

In operation:-

It will be understood that grenades'of the character above described areadapted to contain high explosives, or substances which create anddistribute various forms of gases.

The combustible or explosive substance is introduced into the chamberedbody, after which the block 14 with its housing and associatedmechanism, detonator and fuse, as above decribed, is then secured inplace.

With the arrangement and position of parts as shown in Fig. 2, it willbe noted that the slide tube 22 is locked against movement bythe detentor locking pin 34, and the firing Ipin is locked against movement by thedetent 29. When it is desired to use the grenade, the same is grasped inthe hand with the palm of the hand engaging the projecting end of slideplate 35, and with one finger in the depression 14' over or resting uponthe end 23 of slide tube 22.

In grasping the grenade in the act ofthrowing .same the palm ofthe handwill push the slide plate 35 so that pin 34 will release or unlock theslide tube or detent releaser 22; until this happens the slide tubecannot be moved.

Upon release of the slide tube by the disengagement therewith of thelocking pin 34, the slide tube may be depressed by the nger. pressionfirst puts the spring 26 under tension: further depression of the slidetube brings the two slots 27 and 28 toward register and permits thedownward movement of the free end of pivoted detent 29 to release thering pin 25, whereupon, in response to the built up power in spring 26,the pin is given a quick movement to impinge the cap or detonator 21,which causes ignition of the fuse. The depressing of the slide tube 22may be, and is naturally, the last act before releasing the grenade inthrowing same.

In case it should, for any reason become desirable not to fire thegrenade, after actuation of the slide plate 35, and before depressingthe slide tube 22, the release of pressure on slide plate 35 Will resultin automatically re-locking the slide tube 22; or in case the slide tube22 hasl been partially depressed, but not sufficiently to release thefiring pin, upon withdrawing pressure from slide tube and plate, theparts will automatically return to initial position andlock.

It will be noted that the block and entire firing system constitute acomplete self-containing unit, adapted to be inserted in and removedfrom the shell 11, as such.

The holes 38 Amay be temporarily closed or sealed, said closing meansadapted to be dislodged by the pressure created within the chamber uponignition of the charge.

I have shown the shell spherical, as the preferred form, but it will beunderstood that the same may be spheroidal if desired.

What I claim is:-

1. In a grenade, the combination of a chambered formation, a fuse andmeans for holding same within the chamber, a fuse igniter, including afiring pin and means for normally operating same, and a controltherefor, comprising a firing pin detent, manually operated means forarbitrarily releasing said detent, a detent for said releasing means,said last mentioned detent having an actuating spring and adapted to bemoved against the spring into releasing position.

2. A grenade, comprising a chambered `body for containing a combustiblesubstance, a housing and housing support associated with said chamberedbody, a fuse and detonator supported therein, a tube slidable in thehousing, a firing element associated therewith, a detent for normallyrestraining said iiring element arranged to release upon actuation ofthe sliding tube and means for controlling said actuation, said slidingtube and said controlling means adapted to be manually operated inconnection with the holding and throwing of the grenade.

3.r A grenade, comprising a chambered body for containing a combustiblesubstance, a housing and housing support associated with said chamberedbody, said housing comprising a stationary tube, a fuse and detonatorsupported therein, a tube slidable in the stationary tube, a firingelement associated therewith, a detent for normally restraining saidfiring element arranged to release upon actuation of the sliding-tubeand means for controlling said actuation, said sliding tube and saidcontrolling means adapted to be manually operated' in connection withthe holding and throwing of the grenade.

4. A shell, and a firing system therefor comprising a ring pin and adetent, a detent releaser, a spring, eifective between the releaser Thisdeand the firing pin, adapted to be compressed by the preliminarymovement of the releaser and then to react upon the pin at the moment ofrelease, and a control for said releaser, comprising a locking elementand a spring for normally the preliminary movement of the releaser andthen to react upon the pin at the moment of release, and a control forsaid releaser, comprising a spring actuated locking element manuallyoperated against the spring tension into unlock- 15 ing position.

6. In a grenade, the combination tof a shell having an opening in itsperipheral w'all, a formation adapted to close said opening, saidformation provided with a finger receiving channel 20 within the normalperipheral contour of the shell, a depressible element projecting intosaid channel, and a firing system within the shell controlled by saidldepressible element.

'7. In a grenade, the combination of a shell 25 having an opening in itsperipheral wall, a formation itting in said opening, a depressibleelement projecting through said formation, a slide and a spring foractuating same to lock with the depressible element, said slide having apart nor- 30 mally projecting beyond the 'periphery of the shell forengagement with the palm of the hand,f and a firing system Within theshell controlled by said depressible element.

8. In a grenade, the combination of a shell 35 having an opening in itsperipheral wall, a formation fitting in said opening, a springcontrolled depressible element projecting through said formation, aspring controlled slide associated with the formation and having a partnormally projecting beyond the periphery of the shell, and a ring systemwithin the shell including a ring pin controlled by said depressibleelement and slide, the depressible element and the slide adapted forsimultaneous actuation against their springs for the release of the ringpin.

9. In a grenade, the combination of a shell having an opening in itsperipheral wall, a for.- mation fitting in said opening, a depressibleelement projecting through said formation, a hand operated slideassociated with the formation for engaging the depressible element andhaving a part normally projecting beyond the periphery of the shell, andr'a ring system within the shell controlled by said element and slide,the said element and slide being each spring actuated automatically toreturn to initial locking position in case of manual pressure beingreleased therefrom prior to consummation of the firing operation.

10. In a grenade, the combination of a substantially spherical shellhaving a recess in its peripheral wall, the sides of said recess flankedby inwardly projecting parallel flanges, the ends of the recess havingoppositely projecting anges in the same plane, a formation tting betweenthe inwardly projecting flanges and resting upon and secured to theoppositely directed anges, and a ring mechanism secured to and supportedentirely by said formation.

11. In a grenade, the combination of a firing system including-a springactuated element, a

y detent therefor. areleasing element manually op- 1 ,994,08 1 uallyoperated to unlock the releasing element, the" releasing element and thesecond detent beingso coordinated that the second detent must be manually operated simultaneously with the manual operation of the releasingelement.

12. In a grenade. thevcombination of a shell having a recess inA itsperipheral wall, a formation fitting inv said recess, an inwardlyprojecting cylindrical housing secured to said formation, a tu bularmember slidablypositioned in said hous` ing having an operating partprojecting through the formation, a `spring control `for said tubularmember, a spring operated firing pin, within said tubular member, adetent for the firing pinadaptedto be released by the movement of thetubular member when manually operated against its spring, a springactuated member, forlocking the tubular` member against movement, andhand operated to unlock the same. l

13. In a grenade, the combination of a shell having a recessI in itsperipheral wall, a formation fitting in Saidrecess, an inwardlyprojecting cylindrical housing secured to said formation, a tubularmember slidably positioned in said housing having an operating partprojecting through the formation,` a spring control for said tubularJOHN A. WILLNERS.

